title: Double edge redox-implications for the interaction between endogenous thiols and copper ions: In vitro studies.
abstract: The present study investigated the redox-consequences of the interaction between various endogenous thiols (RSH)-glutathione, cysteine, homocysteine, gamma-glutamyl-cysteine, and cysteinyl-glycine- and Cu(2+) ions, in terms of their free radical-scavenging, ascorbate-oxidizing and O2(*-)-generating properties of the resulting mixtures. Upon a brief incubation (3-30 min) with Cu(2+), the free radical-scavenging properties (towards ABTS(*)(+) and DPPH(*)) and thiol-titratable groups of the RSH added to the mixtures decreased significantly. Remarkably, both effects were only partial, even in the presence of a large molar Cu(2+)-excess, and were unaffected despite increasing the incubation time. At equimolar concentrations, the RSH/Cu(2+) mixtures led to the formation of (EPR paramagnetic) Cu(II)-complexes that were time-stable and ascorbate-reducible, but redox-inactive towards oxygen. In turn, at a slight molar thiol-excess (3:1), the mixtures resulted in the formation of time-stable Cu(I)-complexes (EPR silent) that were unreactive towards ascorbate and oxygen. The only exception was seen for the thiol, glutathione, whose mixture with Cu(2+) mixture displayed a O2(*-)-generating capacity (cytochrome c- and lucigenin-reduction). The data indicate that, depending on their molar ratio, the interaction between Cu(2+) and the tested thiols would give place to mixtures containing either: (i) time-stable and ascorbate-reducible Cu(II)-complexes which display free radical-scavenging properties, or (ii) time-stable but redox-inactive towards oxygen Cu(I)-complexes. Among the latter, the only exception was that of glutathione.
authors.affiliation: Micronutrients Unit, Nutrition and Food Technology Institute, University of Chile, Macul 5540, Macul, PO Box 138-11, Santiago, Chile. catacapo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Pozo
authors.forename: Margarita E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aliaga
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olea-Azar
authors.forename: Hernán
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Speisky
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D003300:Copper; D005978:Glutathione; D003545:Cysteine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid